File carton



J. J. ROHDE Oct. 21, 1969 FILE CARTON 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16.1967 FIG.

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FIG. 2.

Oct. 21, 1969 .1. J. ROHDE 3,473,722

FILE CARTON Filed Oct. 16. 19s? 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oc 1969 J. J. ROHDE3,473,722

FILE CARTON Filed Oct. 16. 19s? 4 Sheets- Sheet 5 Oct. 21, 1969 J. J.ROHDE 3,473,722

FILE CARTON Filed Oct. 16, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States PatentUS. Cl. 22937 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carton, and blanktherefor, which has a triple layered bottom of which the first and thirdlayers form two integral mirror image sections individually comprisingtwo connected trapezoidal sections which interlock with centrallylocated slots in the second layer section. A carton top, and blanktherefor, is also provided which features interlocking triple layeredends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sheet metal file cabinets have beeneffectively used for the storage of letter files and other papers whichmust be saved for long periods of time. However, such cabinets arexpensive and relatively heavy. In overcoming the 0bvious disadvantagesof metal file cabinets, the art has been supplied with various types ofcartons made of paperboard. Such paperboard cartons have generally hadthe advantages of being inexpensive and light in weight. To date,however, a paperboard carton has not been made commercially availablewhich possesses the many advantages of the paperboard carton of thepresent invention. Thus, the cartons of the present invention are notonly inexpensive and light in weight, being preferably made ofpaperboard, but are also easily assembled without staples or extraneoussecuring means and easily shipped in a partially assembled form, beingof a unitary construction. And, not only is this true of the carton ofthe present invention, but also of the carton top which is likewise of aunitary construction which requires no extraneous securing means forassembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a unitary blankfor a carton comprising two rectangular side walls, two rectangular endwalls hingedly connected to opposite ends of one of the side walls withone of the end walls being hingedly connected by it opposite ends toboth of said side walls, primary bottom walls hingedly connected tocorresponding ends of the side walls and individually comprising twohingedly connected trapezoidal sections, and secondary bottom wallshingedly connected to corresponding ends of the end walls andindividually comprising a rectangular section intersected at a centrallocation by a slot.

From the cardboard blank of the present invention a carton may beproduced comprising upstanding side walls and connected end wallsforming the peripheral sides of a rectangular prism, and a triplelayered bottom wall of which the first and third layers form twointegral mirror image sections individually connected to correspondingside walls and interlocking with the slots in the second layer sectionsindividually connected to corresponding end walls.

A carton top is also provided for the carton of the present invention,which top comprises a top wall, upstanding side walls attached toopposite ends of and substantantially perpendicular to said top wall,intermediate reinforcing flaps attached to opposite ends of andsubstantially perpendicular to each side wall and abutting said topwall, upstanding end wall attached to opposite ends of and substantiallyperpendicular to said top wall and abutting the outer side of eachintermediate reinforcing flap, double-hinge sections comprising narrowintervening panels attached to said upstanding end Walls and abuttingthe top edge of said intermediate reinforcing flaps, interiorreinforcing panels attached to said double-hinge sections and abuttingthe inner side of each intermediate reinforcing fiap and said top wall,and at least one locking tongue on the outer edge of each reinforcingpanel engaging at least one slot in said top wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of theblank from which the filing carton is formed.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton top isformed.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the file carton in partiallyfolded form, with the bottom flaps and top flaps unfolded.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the filing carton showing the bottomthereof partially folded.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the carton showing the furtherfolding of the bottom.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the carton showing the final foldingof the bottom and the start of folding of the top.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the filing carton as completelyfolded.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the carton top partially folded.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the carton top completely folded.

FIG, 10 is a front perspective view of the fully assembled carton andcarton top.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in the drawings, boththe carton and carton top of the present invention are individually madefrom single integral blanks of rigid paperboard, i.e., corrugated boardor heavy cardboard. The blank are then pressed and printed to show foldlines and the users name printed thereon.

FIG. 1 discloses a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the filingcarton of the present invention is formed. The centrally locatedsections of the blank, shown separated by dotted lines which here andhereinafter represent folds or creases, are side Walls 1 and connectingend walls 2. End walls 2 0f the carton are optionally provided with handslots 3. As evident, double walls 4 and 5 are provied where a cartonwith double wall or two-ply construction is desired. Primary bottomwalls 6, hingedly connected to side walls 1, are preferably divided intoa trapezoidal section 7, a double hinge section and narrow interveningpanel 8, a second trapezoidal section 9 and a rectangular extensionsection 10 integral with the second trapezoidal section 9. Tongues 11are provided at the outer edge of the rectangular section 10, andmatching slots 12 are provided in the side wall 1 adjacent the firsttrapezoidal section 7. Slots 12 interlock with tongues 11 duringassembly of the carton.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the primary bottomwalls 6 principally comprise two trapezoidal sections having longer andshorter base edges of respectively equal length, with the shorter basesbeing hingedly connected. In the most preferred embodiment, one of thelonger bases is hingedly connected to side wall 1 while the other base,which may be viewed as an imaginary line, is the upper edge of theintegral rectangular extension 10. Rectangular extension 10 is notcritical to the present invention. However, it does provide addedrigidity to the bottom of the carton. Thus, if desired, the sides of thesecond trapezoid might be extended down to the outer corners of therectangular extension 10, thus eliminating the rectangular shape, andleaving the primary bottom wall 6 with just two sections, both being oftrapezoidal configuration.

Hingedly connected to end walls 2 are secondary bottom walls 13.Intersecting each bottom wall 13 at a central location substantiallyperpendicular to the edge of wall 13 which is opposite to thecorresponding end wall 2 is slot 14. Slot 14 is approximately one-halfthe difference between the length of the longer and shorter bases of thetrapezoids of the primary bottom sections. Where the trapezoids of theprimary bottom wall sections are not isometric, this relationshipbetween the length of the slots and the bases of the trapezoids does notremain true.

A diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton top is formed isshown in FIG. 2. This blank is also shown divided into sections bydotted lines which represent folds or creases. Thus, central rectangulartop wall 100 has end walls 101 hingedly connected to opposite ends ofthe top wall. Double hinge sections 102 comprising narrow interveningpanels lie adjacent the outer edge of each end wall 101. Interiorreinforcing panels 103 lie adjacent the outer hinge of each double hingesection 102. There is additionally provided at least one locking tongue104 on the outer edge of each reinforcing panel 103. And accordingly, atleast one corresponding slot 105 is provided in the top wall adjacenteach end wall 101. Side walls 106 are also hingedly connected toopposite ends of the top wall 100. And, intermediate reinforcing flaps107 are hingedly attached to opposite ends 'of each side wall 106. Theseflaps abut opposite ends of each end wall 101 and are slightly spacedfrom the inset ends of reinforcing panels 103. While the carton top asthus described is preferably used with the carton of the presentinvention, it is evident that other carton tops of other constructionmay likewise be successfully used. And, on the other hand, the cartontop of the present invention may be used with cartons not of thisinvention.

A front perspective view of the file carton partially assembled is shownin FIG. 3. It is in this state of assembly, only in flattened form, thatthe file carton may be shipped to a customer, ready for completion ofassembly. The only assembly step shown in FIG. 3 which is performed onthe blank of FIG. 1 is in the sealing of tab 15 which joins end wall 2with side wall 1 (the sealing tab may be omitted and the carton joinedwith tape if desired). Otherwise, the top assembly 16 comprising doublewalls 4 and 5 preferably remains unassembled for shipping purposes asdoes the bottom assembly 17 comprising primary bottom wall 6 andsecondary bottom wall 13.

FIG. 4 discloses a top perspective view of the carton which reveals anintermediate state of assembly of the bottom section 17 of the carton.Thus, as a first step, secondary bottom wall 13 is completely foldedinto the carton to lie adjacent end wall 2. Primary bottom walls 6 arelikewise folded into the carton. Trapezoidal sections 7, which arehingedly connected to side walls 1, are in a perpendicular position tothe side walls. Trapezoidal sections 9 facingly abut each other and areparallel to side walls 1 and perpendicular to trapezoidal section 7. Thesecond step is the engagement of slot 14 with trapezoidal sections 9 andrectangular extension sections 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, a top perspective view of the carton, in a furtherintermediate step of assembly the secondary bottom walls 13 arecompletely folded to lie adjacent trapezoidal sections 7. This isaccomplished by sliding the slot 14 all the way down the faces ofrectangular extensions and trapezoidal sections 9 until the slot 14covers the hinge between the trapezoidal sections 9 and 7. FIG. 5additionally shows the beginning of the final step in assembling thebottom portion of the carton.

A top perspective view of the file carton with a completely assembledbottom section is shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly, trapezoidal sections 9are completely folded to lie flat in the bottom of the carton and arethus perpendicular to side walls 1 as are trapezoidal sections 7. Thecarton is thus provided with a triple layered bottom wall of which thefirst and third layers form two integral mirror image sectionsindividually connected to corresponding side walls and interlocking withthe slots in the second layer sections which are individually connectedto the corresponding end walls. In the completely assembled state, theslots of both rectangular sections substantially completely enclose thehinges connecting the shorter base ends of both integral mirror imagesections.

In the assembly of the bottom section of the carton it is desirable toprovide tongues 11 integral with the rectangular extensions 10, or asthe case may be, trapezoidal sections 9. Thus, tongues 11 can engagewith slots 12. in the side walls 1. This securely locks the bottomsection in place. However, this is not critical to the assembly of thecarton inasmuch as a friction fit may be substituted in order to fullysecure the bottom section of the carton.

FIGS. 6 and 7 present top perspective views of the carton which revealthe method of completing the assembly thereof to form a double wallperiphery. Thus, walls 4 and 5 are folded over and into the carton toform the completed double wall carton shown in FIG. 7. Hand holes 3 inthe double wall sections and in the end sections are aligned when theassembly is completed.

Front perspective views of the carton top revealing the assembly thereofare shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Accordingly, side walls 106 are folded intoan upstanding position which is perpendicular to top wall 100.Reinforcing flaps 107, attached to opposite ends of side walls 106 arefolded into a position perpendicular to each side wall and abutting thetop wall. End wall 101 and interior reinforcing panels 103 are foldedover and about intermediate reinforcing fiaps 107. Accordingly, theupstanding end walls are now substantially perpendicular to the top walland facingly abut the outer side of each intermediate reinforcing flap.Double hinge sections 102 comprising narrow intervening panels then abutthe top edge of the intermediate reinforcing flaps 107. Finally, theintermediate reinforcing panels 103 attached to the double hingesections now abut the inner side of each intermediate reinforcing flapand the top wall. As shown in FIG. 9, locking tongues 104 on the outeredge of each reinforcing panel engage at least one slot 105 in thecompletely assembled carton top.

The completely assembled carton and top are shown in the frontperspective view of FIG. 10. As evident, both carton and top may beassembled from only two pieces of paperboard by relatively simple stepsnot requiring the use of extraneous securing means such as staples.Where desirable, the carton may be provided with flap 18 whichfacilitates lifting loaded cartons by hand holes 3.

I claim:

1. A carton comprising:

upstanding rectangularly arranged side walls and connecting end wallsconnected in tubular relation, first trapezoidal closure flaps havinglonger and shorter base ends and each having the longer end connected toa corresponding one of said side walls, the short ends of the two flapsbeing in end abutting relation,

second trapezoidal closure flaps having longer and shorter ends, andhaving the shorter ends hingedly connected to the shorter ends of saidfirst closure flaps,

substantially rectangular end wall closure flaps hinged to the lowerends of said end walls and folded to overlie said first trapezoidalclosure flaps and to underlie said second trapezoidal closure flaps,

said end wall closure flaps extending substantially into end abuttingrelation, and

the ends of said end Wall closure flaps having aligned slots therein,the combined lengths of said slots being substantially equal to thelength of said shorter ends of said trapezoidal flaps and through whichthe portion of the folded connection between the shorter ends of saidfirst and second trapezoidal flaps extend.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which the longer ends of said firstand second trapezoidal closure flaps are substantially equal in lengthto the length of said side walls.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said second trapezoidal closurefiaps each include a rectangular extension, the second trapezoidalclosure flaps and said extensions thereon being of a combined lengthsubstantially equal to one half the width of said end walls' 4. Thestructure of claim 1 and in which said second trapezoidal closure flapsare extended to be of a length substantially equal to one half the widthof said end walls, and including interlocking means on each saidtrapezoidal closure flap and on one of said walls to hold said secondclosure flaps parallel to said first closure flaps.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said second trapezoidal closurefiaps are extended to be of a length substantially equal to one half thewidth of said end walls, and including interlocking means on the end ofeach second closure fiap and on the side wall to which it is connected.

6. A carton comprising:

upstanding rectangularly arranged side walls and connecting end wallsconnected in tubular relation, first trapezoidal closure fiaps havinglonger and shorter base ends and each having the longer end connected toa corresponding one of said side walls, the short ends of the two flapsbeing in end abutting relation,

second trapezoidal closure flaps having longer and shorter ends, andhaving the shorter ends hingedly connected to the shorter ends of saidfirst closure flaps,

substantially rectangular end wall closure laps hinged to the lower endsof said end walls and folded to overlie said first trapezoidal closureflaps and to underlie said second trapezoidal closure flaps,

said end Wall closure flaps being provided with slots extending into theends thereof at a central location between the side edges andperpendicular to the lines of fold connecting said end wall closureflaps to said end walls to the slots of said two end wall closure flapsbeing aligned,

said slots terminating in slot ends spaced from said lines of foldconnecting said end Wall closure flaps to said end walls, said slot baseends being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the shorterconnected ends of said trapezoidal closure flaps, and

the angularly related sides of said second trapezoidal closure flapsbeing spaced from the lines of fold connecting said end wall closureflaps to said end Walls a distance substantially no greater than thedistance between said base ends of said slots and the correspondinglines of fold connecting said end Wall closure flaps to said end wallswhen said second trapezoidal closure flaps are folded into face contactat right angles to said just trapezoidal closure flaps.

7. The structure of claim 6 and in which the longer ends of said firstand second trapezoidal closure flaps are subfitantially equal in lengthto the length of said side wa s.

8. The structure of claim 7 and in which said second trapezoidal closureflaps each include a rectangular extension each ot the secondtrapezoidal closure flaps and said extension thereon, being of acombined length substantially equal to one half the width of said endwalls.

9. The structure of claim 6 and in which said second trapezoidal closureflaps are extended to be of a length substantially equal to one half thewidth of said end walls, and including interlocking means on each saidtrapezoidal closure flap and on one of said walls to hold second closureflaps parallel to said first closure flaps.

10. The structure of claim 6 and in which said second trapezoidalclosure flaps are extended to be of a length substantially equal to onehalf the width of said end walls, and including interlocking means onthe end of each second closure fiap and on the side Wall to which it isconnected.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,965,215 7/1934 Boeye 229-432,565,188 8/1951 Welshenbach 229-39 2,809,775 10/1957 White 229343,266,707 8/1966 Aust et a1 229-44 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

